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SUMMARY

There were 183.7 million litres of pure alcohol available for consumption from alcoholic beverages in Australia in 2013-14. This was a marginal increase from the amount available for consumption in 2012-13 (183.6 million litres).

The volume of pure alcohol available for consumption in the form of beer increased by 1.0% and wine by 0.2% between 2012-13 and 2013-14. The volume of pure alcohol available for consumption in the form of Ready to Drink (pre-mixed beverages) decreased by 4.3% and spirits by 3.6% during this period.

Of all pure alcohol available for consumption in 2013-14, beer contributed 41.3%, wine 37.5%, spirits 12.6% and RTDs 6.3%. Cider contributed a further 2.2% (see paragraphs 25 to 36 of the Explanatory Notes for information on how estimates of cider were calculated).

On a per capita basis there were 9.7 litres of pure alcohol available for consumption per person in 2013-14, 1.7% less than the amount in 2012-13 (9.9 litres). As a standard drink consists of 12.5 mls of pure alcohol, this is equivalent to an average of 2.1 standard drinks per day per person aged 15 years and over. Note that these figures will overestimate the true level of alcohol consumed as beverages, as adjustments cannot be made for wastage and other factors such as for alcohol used in cooking.

TABLE 1: PURE ALCOHOL AVAILABLE FOR CONSUMPTION

Year ended 30 June

Beer

Wine

Spirits

RTDs(a)

Cider(b)

Total

VOLUME OF PURE ALCOHOL ('000 litres)

2009

81 148

65 600

22 900

13 012

1 644

184 304

2010

79 736

68 451

23 014

12 811

2 208

186 220

2011

77 327

68 000

24 034

12 814

2 733

184 907

201220132014

75 58575 11675 863

69 04468 71968 890

23 08224 03223 174

12 49012 13011 610

3 0633 6004 129

183 264183 597183 666

PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION OF PURE ALCOHOL(c) (litres)

2009

4.68

3.78

1.32

0.75

0.09

10.63

2010

4.51

3.87

1.30

0.72

0.12

10.53

2011

4.31

3.79

1.34

0.71

0.15

10.30

201220132014

4.144.044.01

3.783.703.64

1.261.291.23

0.680.650.61

0.170.190.22

10.049.889.71

(a) Ready to Drink (pre-mixed) beverages.(b) See paragraphs 25 to 36 of the Explanatory Notes for information on how estimates of cider were calculated.(c) Litres per person aged 15 years and over.